Butter-worker



(No Model.)

J. W. BUTTON BUTTER WORKER.

No. 390,565. Patented Oct. 2, 188B.

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PATENT FFICE.

J. \VARREN BUTTON, OF SCHAGHTICOKE, NEW YORK.

BUTTER WORKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,565, dated October 2, .1888.

Applicationfiled November 7, 1887. Serial No. 254,526. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J. WARREN BUTTON, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Schaghticoke, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Butter-\Vorkers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in buttenworkers, the object thereof being to provide a simple, cheap, and efficient device for compressing the butter after it has been removed from the churn, so as to remove therefrom all surplus water and other waste material; and it consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts, substantiall y as will be hereinafter described, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved butterworker. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the compressor or follower in the position which it occupies when at one end of its stroke. Fig. 3 is a similar side elevation show ing the compressoror follower in the position that it occupies when at the other end of the stroke. Fig. 4isa bottom plan view. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the tray with the follower and actuating mechanism removed.

Like letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

A represents a tray made of suitable shape and size, and consisting simply of a bottom portion and three sides arranged about the same, the remaining side and the top being left open. This tray is mounted removably upon a supporting frame-work consisting of three legs, a a, secured to a horizontal triangular frame, I)

Blocks or projections c on the bottom of the tray are properly located to enter the corners of the triangular framewhen the tray has been located thereupon, and thus keep the tray in proper position during the operation of the butter-working mechanism. It will thus be seen that the tray can be easily removed from the supporting-frame and carried about from one room to the other during the process of butter-making. Thetray is, therefore, as convenient for use as the ordinary butter-bowl.

The butter-working mechanism consists of an operating handlever, B, which is pivoted at its lower end to the tray at a point adjacent to the open end of thesame. Within the tray is loosely located a flat block or follower, 0, having a width substantially equal to the depth of the tray and a length substantially equal to the width of the tray. To this block is rigidly secured a rod or bar, D, which is pivoted at its outer end to the hand-lever B at a suitable point on said lever above the bottom of the tray. The rod D is preferably pro vided with a series of several holes, so that the point of its pivotal connection with the lever B may be varied, in order to adjust and regulate the working of the block or follower 0.

The block or follower G and the rod D are placed approximately at right angles to each other, said follower being secured to the rod in a slightly-inclined position, as shown, and a brace, cl, may be fixed between them, if wished.

The operation of my improved butterworker may be briefly described as follows: The butter to be worked is placed in the tray between its closed end and the block or follower 0. The operator then lays hold of the hand-lever B and moves it to and fro, which causes the follower G to reciprocate. When the lever B is moved inward in the direction of the mass of butter, follower G will be pressed against the butter,which will be confined in the narrow space between the tray and follower. The position taken by the several parts whenthe lever is at the inner limit of its stroke is clearly shown in Fig. 3. It will here be seen that the follower G is inclined at a considerable angle to the side of the tray A, and that consequently the butter which is confined between said follower and tray will have a wedge shape, being much heavier at the top than at the bottom. Therefore,when the operator moves the hand-lever B in the opposite direction, and consequently removes the follower 0 from contact with the butter, the lat ter, being heavier at the top, will fall down toward the follower, so that when the operator next forces the follower against the butter it will press upon it in a different manner from what it did before. When the follower is in that position which in the ordinary operation of the machine may be termed the outer limit of its stroke, it will be noted, by referring to Fig. 2, that said follower is substantially parallel to the end of the tray and is not in the inclined position which it assumes at the inner limit of its stroke. This change of position is due to the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my machine as I havev described them, the arm D being rigidly secured to the follower and pivoted to the operating-lever at a point above the bottom of the tray, and it is by virtue of this peculiarity of construction,which permits the follower to operate as stated, changing its position from that shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, and vice verse, that I am enabled to produce the improved results in the working of butter. If the follower maintained its inclined position constantly during its entire movement, the butter would have a tendency to slide up the inclined face of the follower when the lat ter begins to press against it; but since the follower, when it begins to press upon the but ter, has the position shown in Fig. 2, the but ter will be firmly compressed between said follower and the end of the tray, and all tendency to slide up the face of the follower will be overcome. At each compression of the mass of butter it is obliged, owing to the peculiar arrangement and construction of parts of my improved butter-worker, to be turned, so that the force of compression is exerted upon different parts of the mass. In this mannera thorough removal of the brine and buttermilk from the butter is effected. The waste substances that are expressed from the butter will run down into the bottom of the tray and toward the open end thereof. Said tray may be slightly inclined, if desired, to permit the water and brine to run off freely, and at the outer end I have found it convenient to make grooves therein, which center at an aperture made through the bottom of the tray.

In the corner of the tray opposite to the follower I have found it convenient to place a block or strap, as 70, to enable the butter in said corner to change its position at each com pression. The follower, when it reaches its inner limit, will ride upon this strip or piece is, thus becoming elevated in such a manner as to be further inclined, and also acting better upon the butter in the corner of the tray. Without this block the apex of the compressed wedge of butter will have a tendency to be drawn outward when the follower begins its return reciprocation-a movement on the part of the butter which would prevent its being automatically turned, as above described. The provision of the strip k, however, overcomes this tendency, for the strip holds the point of the butter and allows the automatic turning of the wedge to take place when the follower recedes therefrom. Furthermore, the strip 1s beneficial in permitting the butter at the apex of the wedge to be changed in position, since without this strip it is obvious that the same butter will be likely to remain in the corner ofthe tray at all times. Furthermore, the movable follower may have the face WlllCll comes in contact with the butter fluted vertically, if desired; or it may be fluted in any other suitable manner. However, it will be noted that I do not confine myself to this fluting, but reserve the liberty to adopt it or not, as may be preferred. I have herein mentioned that the butter-worker was to be operated by power applied to a hand-lever. This power will ordinarily be the hand of the person uslng the machine; but it is obvious that if the user so desires other means of power may be applied. I

The device herein described, although preferred for use as a butter-worker, may be eniployed for other purposes. It may, for instance, be used for kneading bread, and doubtless other places can be found where it can be employed with eflicacy and value.

I am aware that butter-workers have here tofore been constructed having an oblong bowl containing a ladleshaped follower attached to a rod to which an operating-lever is pivotally connected, whereby the ladle is reciprocated and the butter compressed. Such construction I do not therefore claim, broadly, as new with Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In abutter-worker, the combination,with the tray, of an operating-lever pivoted to the bottom of the tray and a connecting-rod pivoted to the operatinglever at a suitable distance above the tray-bottom and provided at its forward end with a follower extending the width of the tray fixedly attached thereto, substantially as described.

2. In a butter-\vorkcr, the combination of the tray, a follower or compressor arranged to reciprocate therein, a block or strip secured horizontally in the corner of said tray opposite the follower, and upon which the follower rests when at the inner limit of its stroke, an operating-lever pivoted to the tray-bottom, and a connecting-rod rigidly fastened to the follower and pivoted to the operating-lever above its pivotal point, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. WARREN BUTTON.

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. PINKHAM, ADDIE themes.

IIO 

